Dark Destroyer

by Kathryn Le Veque

  “Shall I ask Lady de Lara what she thinks of bringing her daughter into a hall full of leering men?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Let us see what she has to say about it. If she agrees, then I will do it.”

  Jasper’s mouth flew open in outrage. “You would not dare do such a thing!”

  Gates’ reply was to turn on his heel and head for the hall door, leaving Jasper to bellow after him. “De Wolfe!” he yelled. “Do not leave this hall, do you hear? Come back here, I demand it!”

  Gates made it to the entry before stopping, pausing long enough to turn around and see that Jasper was on his feet, moving towards him. The old man pointed at him.

  “Since when are you so concerned about a woman?” he demanded. “Women mean nothing to you. Do you know why I did not greet you and my daughter in the bailey when you arrived last night? It was because a woman claiming she had borne your bastard son had come to the kitchen gate demanding money. It is true! I went to see her because she was creating quite a fuss and the sentries summoned me. I saw the child, Gates. He looks just like you. She calls him Wolfie, after you. I paid her a few silver coins and told her to go away.”

  Shocked, Gates considered what he had just been told carefully before replying. There wasn’t much use in denying the possibility because he knew it would have been a lie for him to even attempt it. Therefore, he simply accepted it.

  “Did she give her name?” he asked.

  Jasper nodded but, in the same motion, his head began to wag back and forth in a reproachful gesture. “Helene of Linley,” he said. “God’s Bones, Gates, you bedded Lord Linley’s daughter? Have you no sense?”

  Gates remained cool. “Linley is a drunken old fool with less than fifty men sworn to him,” he said quietly. “He lives in a dilapidated manor home, the last son of a once-great baronetcy, and drinks himself to death every day. I met Helene on an errand for you, in fact, and fed the woman because she was starving. She was in town trying to sell the last of her family’s valuables. Did you know that about Linley? He uses all of his money for drink while his family starves.”

  Jasper did know that, in fact. His angry stance was suddenly not so angry. He waved Gates off, as if the background of the House of Linley made no difference. “Be that as it may, it does not give you the right to bed his daughter,” he pointed out. “Now you have given them one more mouth to feed but more than that, the woman will never know a decent marriage to lift her family out of poverty because you bedded her. That is the third bastard that I know of from you and God only knows how many more there are out there. What on earth am I going to do with you, Gates?”

  Gates looked at the man, seeing how flustered he was, and did what he usually did in these situations – he charmed himself out of it. He and de Lara rarely had cross words but when they did, Gates knew that honey worked much better with Jasper than vinegar. That, and stories of war. Either one had been known to work. He forced a smile.

  “I know that I am a terrible lad,” he said, trying to lighten Jasper’s mood. “I refuse to let you see your own daughter and then I produce armies of bastard children all over your earldom. At the very least, you should beat me into a bloody pulp but then there would be no one to lead your armies to victory. I am your greatest pride and your greatest embarrassment. Whatever are you going to do with me?”

  Jasper, who had been righteously upset, was struggling not to smile as Gates came over to him and clapped him on the shoulder, grinning devilishly. It was difficult to be cross with such a smile. He shook his head in disgust.

  “You are a wicked bastard,” he said, although by the tone of his voice it was obvious that he wasn’t truly angry. “Between you and Alexander, it is as if you are led by your manhoods and not your common sense.”

  “I know. But it is much more fun that way.”

  Jasper snorted, easing out of his anger. “Naughty!”

  Gates laughed softly. “Naughty and thrilling,” he said. “I never know when an irate father is going to try and challenge me, and that makes life very exciting.”

  Jasper couldn’t help but laugh at Gates, a man he truly adored. “You really are dastardly,” he said. “Will you ever cease this behavior, Gates? Will you become a responsible man someday and marry a woman?”

  Gates immediately thought of Kathalin, an idea that hit him so hard he actually had to suck in his breath. Suddenly, the situation wasn’t so funny anymore. He felt anxiety and confusion. The smile faded from his face.

  “I doubt any decent family will want to have their daughter married to me,” he said, half because it was the truth and half because he wanted to see Jasper’s reaction. “I will have to find a bride from a country far away where they have not heard of me.”

  As expected, Jasper agreed. “That is true, lad,” he said. “I am not sure we could find you a bride from a decent family in all of England. No woman wants to marry a man who has bastards running around. Most shameful. But, on the other hand, you are a de Wolfe and you bring the de Wolfe name with you. You are a knight beyond compare. Mayhap a good family will take that into consideration.”

  Gates almost asked the obvious; it was on the tip of his tongue, begging to be spoken: would you? But he couldn’t bring himself to say it, to give a clue as to what he had been thinking and feeling for Kathalin. Was it marriage, then? Did he want to marry the woman? Gates wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he couldn’t stand the thought of her with someone else. The very idea ate at him like a cancer.

  “Mayhap,” he was all he could manage to say. “But I do not have to worry over it today. Meanwhile, may I make a suggestion regarding your daughter?”

  In a better mood now, Jasper shrugged. “Go ahead,” he said with resignation. “You will, anyway.”

  Gates smirked, a half-grin on his face. “Allow me to suggest going to her chamber and speaking with her in private,” he said. “She is a different young lady than you have imagined. Being raised in St. Milburga’s has seen to that. But let me say that she has the de Lara strength. When we rode into St. Milburga’s, it was overrun with raiders. I happened into the kitchen, where your daughter was, and she nearly beat me to death with an iron pot before she knew who I was. Strength and bravery like that is indeed a de Lara trait. So give her time to become accustomed to her new surroundings before you parade her around in front of men. She will do you proud but it would be better if you allowed her to do it on her own terms.”

  By the time he was finished, Jasper was listening seriously. “She beat you with a pot, you say?”

  “She did, indeed. Me and another Welsh fool.”

  Jasper chuckled. “Indeed,” he said, respect in his tone. He eyed Gates a moment before speaking. “Very well,” he said. “I will go to her chamber this morning and become acquainted with her. I would also like to take her to meet her mother.”

  “I am sure she would be agreeable to that.”

  Jasper nodded. “Excellent,” he said. “Will you come with me to see her, then? She knows you well by now and I am sure she would be comfortable with you in the room.”

  As Gates nodded, Alexander entered the hall. Dressed in a heavy fur cloak against the cold, his face was pinched red from the chill outside. When he saw Gates and Jasper standing there, he beat at his arms as if to drive warmth back into them.

  “God’s Bloody Feet!” he exclaimed. “I have never felt such cold!”

  Jasper was already moving for the entry with Gates in tow. “Come with us, Alexander,” he said, tugging on the man. “We are going to meet my daughter. I’ve not truly spoken with her since she was a child and even then, what is it possible for children to say? She was a silly little girl. I would like to see what a fine and obedient woman she has become.”

  Jealousy reared its ugly head in Gates’ heart once again at the thought of Alexander interacting with Kathalin. It was a struggle not to show it. He didn’t even want Jasper speaking with the woman much less Alexander. Damnation, man, what is happening to you? Frustrated, and trying to keep
his composure, Gates had no choice but to follow Jasper, and now Alexander, out of the hall.

  “I met your daughter last night, my lord, briefly,” Alexander said as they entered the frozen bailey. “A lovely girl, in fact. She does not look like the de Lara side of the family.”

  Jasper grinned at the insult. “Nay, she certainly does not,” he said. “She looks like the du Bois side, the half-Welsh side. They all have dark hair and bright blue eyes. Kathalin looks a good deal like her mother did as a young woman.”

  The three of them slogged through the freezing, slick mud as they approached the keep. Jasper kept trying to shake it off his fine boots even though it was a futile effort; the dark mud clung like clay.

  “My lord,” Gates spoke up before they could reach the iron-grate entry of the keep. “You should know that Lady Kathalin has brought up her request to take her vows as a nun more than once during the journey home. It is possible she will bring it up again when you speak with her. She is quite disappointed at being summoned home rather than remaining at St. Milburga’s and being allowed to pursue a holy vocation.”

  Jasper frowned as they reached the keep entry. “She will not take her vows,” he said flatly. “A de Lara is not meant for the cloister. She has a bigger destiny to fulfill.”

  Gates nodded patiently as the old Tender of the Keep unlocked the grate and pulled it open. “I realize that,” he said. “But she is quite attached to St. Milburga’s and has her heart set on becoming a nun. If I were you, I would be gentle when informing her that she will be denied her wishes. She is likely to become quite emotional about it. In fact, I had to carry her, bound, out of St. Milburga’s because she did not wish to come with me, so be aware that her presence here is not by choice. It was by force.”

  The three men pushed into the lower level of the keep, which was cold and somewhat dark. Jasper was the first one up the spiral stairs, followed by Gates and Alexander.

  “I see,” Jasper said. He did not sound pleased. “Then her desire to join the cloister is not a whim.”

  “Not at all.”

  He fell silent a moment as they reached the top of the stairs. “That is unfortunate,” he finally said, heading for the chamber door where his daughter was housed, “because my plans for her are much different.”

  Gates didn’t say anymore as Jasper reached out a meaty fist and banged on Kathalin’s door. He had to rap twice before a nervous voice on the other side asked for identification. Gates, knowing she would not open the door to her father, primarily because he’d told her not to, answered.

  “My lady, it is de Wolfe and your father and Sir Alexander,” he said. “May we please enter?”

  The bolt to the door was thrown. They could hear it sliding against the wood. The chamber door jerked open and Kathalin stood in the doorway.

  Her attention was only on Gates and his attention was only on her; she was wearing the heavy lavender wool gown, a simple garment that emphasized her lovely figure, and her dark hair was simply braided and draped over one shoulder. It was clear that she hadn’t any help in dressing not only because of her simple hair, but for the fact that the lace-up ties on the back of the dress were somewhat awry. Gates only saw that when she managed to tear her attention off of him and step back into the room, ushering her father forth.

  “Good morn to you, my lord,” Kathalin said politely, her attention once again returning to Gates. “It is a lovely morning.”

  Gates didn’t smile at her; he was terrified to do it, terrified that Jasper would see him do it and then read into the gesture of his interest in Kathalin. That could not happen, under any circumstances. But the fact that she was only half-dressed spurred Gates into action. He could see that she was tugging the neckline of her dress up so that it would not fall off.

  “Greetings, Daughter,” Jasper said. “I have come to see how you are faring this morning. I was hoping we might have a discussion.”

  Kathalin nodded, tugging at her shoulder again so her garment would not fall down. Before she could reply, Gates put himself between her and Jasper, pointing to the basket that had contained the possessions he purchased for her. The basket lid was ajar and garments were half-in, half-out of the basket.

  “My lord,” he said, distracting Jasper and Alexander. “Lady Kathalin did not have any possessions, or any acceptable clothing, because of her humble existence at St. Milburga’s. I took the liberty of purchasing some items for her and I wish for you to inspect them. She may need more. You may wish for her to have something else. In any case, will you please inspect what I have spent your money on? I felt it was important for the lady to dress as a daughter of an earl.”

  Thankfully, Jasper was diverted. Talk of money always diverted him. He headed straight for the basket as Gates swiftly turned around, got in behind Kathalin, and began quickly and nimbly tightening up the laces of her surcoat. Jasper was digging into the basket as Kathalin grunted, sucking in her breath with surprise as Gates pulled the ties tight so her garment wouldn’t fall off.

  Alexander, of course, was watching the whole thing, biting off laughter as Gates cinched up the lady’s dress and she tried very hard not to make any noise of it. He didn’t think it odd that Gates would do such a thing considering how well versed the man was in removing ladies’ clothing, so it was quite humorous to him as all of this went on behind Jasper’s back. Jasper, quite oblivious, pulled out the shifts, peering inside at the fine slippers.

  “Where did you get these things, Gates?” he asked.

  Gates kept his eyes on Jasper as he tightened. “In a town not far from here,” he said. “The wife of the local merchant was a seamstress and she had many fine garments already half-sewn. I simply purchased them.”

  Kathalin gasped as Gates pulled tight the top of the lacings, nearly pulling her off the ground in his haste. But Jasper didn’t notice; he was still focused on the possessions he had paid for, unaware when Alexander moved next to Gates to make sure the man had laced the woman up properly. Silently, Alexander nodded his approval and both men moved away from Kathalin, quickly, as Jasper turned around with a bar of soap in his hand.

  “What?” he demanded of Gates. “No jewelry? Why did you not buy her any jewelry?”

  Gates was quite casual in his behavior, as if he hadn’t just laced up the back of Kathalin’s surcoat. They were all standing a respectable distance away from the lady, as if nothing had happened.

  “There was none available,” he said. “I would be happy to take the lady to Shrewsbury to purchase jewelry for her.”

  Alexander chimed in. “An excellent idea,” he agreed. “I will accompany them. Shrewsbury is only a day’s ride from Hyssington. And it will be imperative that the lady be properly dressed if you intend to show her off at the coming celebration.”

  Gates struggled not to scowl at Alexander, who seemed quite eager to accompany them to Shrewsbury. As Jasper considered the suggestion, Kathalin, who was feeling quite overwhelmed by the course of the conversation, and all of the male chatter, spoke up.

  “My lord,” she addressed her father firmly, wanting to be heard above the forceful knights. “You mentioned a celebration yesterday. Although I appreciate your generosity in planning such a thing in my honor, I can assure you that I do not need or want a celebration. I simply need to know why it is you have summoned me home. Won’t you tell me?”

  Jasper faced his daughter, trying to keep in mind what Gates had told him about her. She has her heart set on becoming a nun. The more Jasper looked at her, the more distaste that idea provoked. Now that he’d seen his daughter, he knew she would command a fine price with a fine family, and that was truthfully all he could think of. It didn’t matter what she wanted; it was what he wanted. He indicated the small table and two chairs near the window.

  “Please, Kathalin,” he said. “Sit down. There is much to discuss.”

  Dutifully, Kathalin sat in one of the chairs. It was now difficult to breathe because Gates had cinched her ties so tightly. She shifte
d around in the chair, attempting to find relief from her squashed ribcage.

  Jasper sat in the opposite chair, unaware of Kathalin’s discomfort as he took a moment to gaze upon her. Then, in a surprising move, he reached out to take her hand. Kathalin watched him with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.

  “My dear,” Jasper said, trying to sound gentle. “I understand that you wish to commit yourself to the cloister.”

  Kathalin nodded eagerly. “I do,” she said quickly. “You received my missive about it?”

  Jasper nodded. “I did,” he replied. He hesitated a moment before continuing. “I have discussed the issue with your mother and we have come to the conclusion that you would better serve this family by fulfilling your destiny as the wife of an ally. The House of de Lara is a powerful Marcher lordship and it is imperative that we make allegiances. Since Roget is no longer with us, God rest his soul, the earldom will pass to your brother, Jeffrey, and he will make a political marriage someday. We must make one for you as well. It is important to the survival of our family. Do you understand?”

  Kathalin was looking at the man with such a fallen expression that it was difficult not to notice it. She sighed heavily, great anguish on her face. “But I do not wish to marry,” she said, her voice soft and pleading. “My brother will have children to carry on the de Lara name. If I marry, I will not be carrying on the de Lara name at all. I will be perpetuating my husband’s name.”

  Jasper shook his head. “Untrue,” he said. “Your children will have de Lara blood in them. That is a very important factor.”

  Kathalin was heartbroken. Now, she realized the true reason why she had been summoned home, to face a future she did not want. In hindsight, she supposed she knew it all along but to hear her father speak so callously of something that meant so much to her was truly disheartening. Part of her wondered if Gates, too, had known it all along and simply hadn’t wanted to tell her. She looked at him, then, distress on her face only to see that his features were like stone. There was no discernable expression. No warmth, no sympathy. Her heart sank even more.